Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 8, 2021
Jan. 8, 2021 USDA
Trump Administration Invests $4.6 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Georgia
Staff reports that the Trump Administration on Thursday announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $4.6 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Georgia. Pembroke Telephone Company Inc. will use a $4.6 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network.
Jan. 8, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports that Georgia is now the only state to have been named No. 1 for business climate for eight years in a row by Site Selection magazine, an internationally circulated business publication that covers corporate real estate and economic development. This year, Georgia shares the top ranking with North Carolina.
Jan. 8, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delta will no longer allow emotional support animals on flights
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that with new federal rules in place, Delta Air Lines said it will no longer allow emotional support animals on its flights. Airlines and passengers had raised concerns about safety and other issues as more and more travelers brought animals on board.
Jan. 8, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Jobless Georgians receive first checks from new federal stimulus package
Dave Williams reports that the Georgia Department of Labor started paying out unemployment benefits last week through the new federal COVID-19 relief legislation even as a group of unemployed Georgians sued the agency to speed up checks. The labor department paid out state and federal unemployment benefits last week to almost 300,000 jobless Georgians, including nearly 167,000 who received checks through the new Continued Assistance Act Congress passed late last month.
Jan. 8, 2021 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta waives liquor license fees, takes no action on Confederate report
Susan McCord reports that bar owners forced to close part of last year due to COVID-19 and others hurt by the pandemic are getting a break from the Augusta government. The Augusta Commission agreed Wednesday to allocate nearly $4 million in federal CARES Act and local projected revenues on the breaks, including waiving alcohol license fees for all of 2021 and expanding other assistance for small businesses.
Jan. 8, 2021 Georgia Health News
Hospitals in every region struggle to cope with COVID-19 spike
Andy Miller reports that a Georgia town’s current status as a COVID hot spot has left its mark on the local hospital. Dublin, in Middle Georgia, is now listed as No. 7 among U.S. metro areas in per capita rate of COVID-19 infections over the past two weeks, according to the New York Times.
Jan. 8, 2021 Albany Herald
Georgia Trust president among magazine’s Notable Georgians
Staff reports that Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation President and CEO Mark C. McDonald has been named to Georgia Trend magazine’s 2021 list of Notable Georgians. This is the fourth time that McDonald has made the list that “represents the best qualities of leadership, power, character and influence the state has to offer.”
Jan. 8, 2021 Brunswick News
JWSC awards $2.63 million contract to upgrade 136 sewer stations
Taylor Cooper reports that the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission awarded a $2.63 million contract to upgrade electronics and software in 136 sewer pumps stations across the county Thursday. Several tasks will be performed, but central to the contract is installing the necessary equipment and software to run the supervisory control and data acquisition system, or SCADA.
Jan. 8, 2021 Savannah Morning News
Despite pro-Trump mob attack on Capitol, Rep. Buddy Carter still voted to overturn Biden results
Deann Komanecky reports that Wednesday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol building by a large pro-Trump mob didn’t change 1st District Rep. Buddy Carter’s mind on voting to overturn the presidential election results. Carter, who was reelected on Nov. 3, voted to uphold objections to the certification of the Electoral College votes in Pennsylvania and Arizona on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Jan. 8, 2021 WABE 90.1
Speaker Ralston Announces Election Integrity Committee That Will Focus on ‘Moving Forward’
Emil Moffat reports, in announcing his priorities for the upcoming legislative session, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston announced that he would form a standalone, special committee on election integrity to look at the state’s election laws. Since President Trump lost the November election, some Georgia Republicans have claimed, without credible evidence, that there was widespread fraud involved.
Jan. 8, 2021 Rome News-Tribune
State finances in better shape than lawmakers imagined nine months ago
Doug Walker reports that the Rome Floyd Chamber conducted its annual pre-legislative breakfast Thursday by Zoom and state Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, made a point of telling participants how difficult it is to communicate with other lawmakers and constituents by videoconference.
Jan. 8, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
General Assembly prepares for another pandemic session Monday
James Salzer reports that Georgia lawmakers return to the state Capitol in Monday for their second COVID-19 session in seven months amid a still-deadly pandemic, an uncertain budget picture and partisan rancor left over from President Donald Trump’s failed reelection bid.
